Diascopic- -science Approach to science Approach to Diascopic - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Diascopic Diascopic-

• science Approach to

science Approach to Teaching General Teaching General-

• education

education Science Science

WONG Wing Hung General Education Foundation (GEF) Programme Office of University General Education

1

Diascopic Diascopic

dia-

• From Greek, means “through” (e.g. diameter)

scopic

• From Greek, means “look at”

Diascopic science: by looking through

science …

Science

Diascopic Diascopic-

• science

science (

(透觀科學 透觀科學) ) Approach

Approach

Enduring questions

(To be explained)

This talk This talk

• 1. General Education (GE) at CUHK
• 2. GEF: Dialogue and Enduring Questions
• 3. Diascopic-science Approach in “In

Dialogue with Nature”

• 4. Common misunderstanding of GE

science

5

A holistic GE at CUHK A holistic GE at CUHK

GEF Programme

UGEA, UGEB, UGEC, UGED broad view on different aspects of human existence, skills in discussion and writing. more in-depth knowledge of different areas graduates with a holistic training in general education

College general education

Students’ involvement in college life and college tradition Intellectual development

The University GE The University GE

GEF Programme

• In Dialogue with Humanity (UGFH1000)
• In Dialogue with Nature (UGFN1000)

Four areas

• Area A - Chinese Cultural Heritage
• Area B - Nature, Science and Technology
• Area C - Society and Culture
• Area D - Self and Humanity

Where is natural science? Where is natural science?

GEF Programme

• In Dialogue with Humanity (UGFH1000)
• In Dialogue with Nature (UGFN1000)

Four areas

• Area A - Chinese Cultural Heritage
• Area B - Nature, Science and Technology
• Area C - Society and Culture
• Area D - Self and Humanity

This talk This talk

• 1. General Education (GE) at CUHK
• 2. GEF: Dialogue and Enduring Questions
• 3. Diascopic-science Approach in “In

Dialogue with Nature”

• 4. Common misunderstanding of GE

science

Dialogue and Enduring Questions

GEF Programme

CUHK in 2012 CUHK in 2012

3-year 4-year curriculum. 6 more credits in general education. Easiest way: require each student to take

2 more courses from the existing UGEA/B/C/D.

10

We chose a difficult way We chose a difficult way … …

developed a 6-credit GEF Programme:

• In Dialogue with Humanity
• In Dialogue with Nature

Students have to read classics, discuss

and write.

11

Human existence Human existence

In the past thousands

• f years, nearly all

things changed.

What has never

changed?

• The question about
• urselves:

12

• A statue at Columbia University

13

• My identity

carries a set of values. Reflection on the values reshapes my identity.

Questions of values Questions of values

We frequently ask these questions.

• What is a good life?
• What is a good society?
• Should I love my enemy?
• Should I be honest?
• ……

14

Dialogue: Q & A & Q & A Dialogue: Q & A & Q & A … …

Questions of values wait for answers. The answers are questioned. New questions give rise to new answers. … These are dialogues

• between individuals
• between texts
• between individuals and texts

15

Dialogue: Q & A & Q & A Dialogue: Q & A & Q & A … …

No perfect answer Dialogues keep

going on.

Dialogues initiate the pursuit of

knowledge.

Dialogues Answers to enduring

questions

16

From dialogue to classics From dialogue to classics

How can a university student enter the

tradition of dialogue?

Classics: records of the thoughts of great minds

• n the human existence.

17

• What is a good life?

Is life good? What is death? What is a good society?

Seminar Seminar-

• based GEF

based GEF Programme Programme

in small groups of 25 students for all 3600

Y1/T2 or Y2/T1 students.

reading classics, discussions, writing. Each teacher teaches 6 groups.

18

This talk This talk

• 1. General Education (GE) at CUHK
• 2. GEF: Dialogue and Enduring Questions
• 3. Diascopic-science Approach in “In

Dialogue with Nature”

• 4. Common misunderstanding of GE

science

20

UGFN1000 In Dialogue with Nature

DIANA: An intellectual expedition

• I. Exploration of
• I. Exploration of the

the Physical Universe Physical Universe

• !"#$%&

!"#$'(%& )* $+& )*$,-.&

• II. Exploration of the
• II. Exploration of the World of Life

World of Life

• */ /# $0&
• 1. " ),#! $(%&

## $2&

• III. Understanding of
• III. Understanding of Human Understanding

Human Understanding

)#3"#) 4 565 # 7.. $沈括 沈括 沈括 沈括： ： ： ：《 《 《 《夢溪筆談 夢溪筆談 夢溪筆談 夢溪筆談》 》 》 》& 1).## $(8&

• 9:#;$('&

< 7#;.<.)*# ; $0%=& "..;.>$?& <<. $&

(The last paragraph before Axioms)

Newton Newton’ ’s s Principia Principia

What did Newton understand? Mathematical understanding.

Darwin Darwin’ ’s dream s dream

What do scientists assume? Universality.

Enduring questions Enduring questions

Is science going towards the truth? What do I mean when I say “I

understand”?

What is the beauty of nature? Is life just a matter of physics and

chemistry?

Do I have a soul? …

Learning Outcomes Learning Outcomes

read and discuss science texts with confidence

• Science

identify the essential characteristics of various methods of scientific inquiry that have significant impacts

• n how human beings view

life and universe. relate the development in natural sciences highlighted in the course to contemporary human conditions. formulate informed personal views on the societal implications of scientific explorations.

world (世界) society (社會) individuals (個體)

Science

evaluate highlighted scientific methods using multiple perspectives

science (科學)

This talk This talk

• 1. General Education (GE) at CUHK
• 2. GEF: Dialogue and Enduring Questions
• 3. Diascopic-science Approach in “In

Dialogue with Nature”

• 4. Common misunderstanding of GE

science

Common misunderstanding Common misunderstanding … …

GE science = popular science GE science = science with no

mathematics

GE science = 1000-level major science

Example: General Relativity (GR) Example: General Relativity (GR)

A theory describing

• ur universe.

Only professionals

can understand GR.

“Translation” is

needed for non- scientists.

Translation Translation … …

No equations. Pictorial illustration of

the idea of curved space-time.

Talk about applications:

• Global positioning system (GPS).

Up to this point, same as popular science.

Diascopic Diascopic science asks science asks … …

GPS was originally for military uses, what

does this imply?

People believed in a flat space-time, but

GR reveals a curved space-time, what does it mean to our understanding of the universe?

Does the universe (which follows GR)

have a purpose?

Diascopic Diascopic science and others science and others

Popular science Diascopic science Technical science Scientific concepts Explained Explained Explained Technical details Avoided Avoided Important Methodology Described Described and reflected on Assumed Discussion of relations between science and other fields To arouse the reader’s interest in science To acquire an understanding

• f what science

implies Rare Target Common readers All people Researchers/ major students Diascopic science: welcomed by both science majors and non-majors.

• End

End-

• 1.

General Education (GE) at CUHK

2.

Dialogue and Enduring Questions

3.

Diascopic-science Approach in “In Dialogue with Nature”

4.

Common misunderstanding of GE science

Science Enduring questions